A North Carolina man is behind bars on felony prices after allegedly capturing a juvenile enjoying “ding-dong ditch” in his residential neighborhood, in keeping with police.
The incident occurred round 11:20 p.m. in Statesville, North Carolina, on Saturday, when deputies with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Workplace heard gunshots coming from a close-by neighborhood whereas conducting a site visitors cease, authorities stated in a press release.
As authorities arrived within the space of Absher Farm Loop to aim to find the origin of the gunfire, they obtained a 911 name relating to a person affected by a gunshot wound in close by Fort Pines Lane.
Officers subsequently found an “unoccupied car stopped within the roadway with passenger doorways open, damaged glass on the bottom, and obvious bullet holes within the car,” earlier than finding a gaggle of 5 juveniles in a close-by area, in keeping with the assertion.
One of many juveniles within the group had a gunshot wound to the leg, police stated.
As authorities carried out their preliminary investigation, they realized the group was touring by means of the neighborhood when an unknown particular person fired at their car and struck the juvenile within the leg.
Whereas gathering further proof, together with witness interviews and surveillance video, investigators have been approached by Craig Steven Mason, who recognized himself because the shooter, police stated.
Mason reportedly advised investigators he was asleep inside his dwelling when he was awoken by loud noises coming from a close-by residence, inflicting him to retrieve his handgun and go outdoors to research the reason for the sound.
“Mason advised detectives he noticed a car driving by means of the neighborhood with no headlights on, and he fired a number of rounds towards the car because it handed,” the division stated.
The car was subsequently struck 4 instances, with one spherical placing the juvenile passenger within the leg.
Detectives later realized the group was reportedly partaking in a sport of “ding-dong ditch” within the neighborhood, a typical prank through which people ring doorbells earlier than operating away, however didn’t method Mason’s dwelling.
On Monday, authorities arrested Mason on prices of felony assault with a lethal weapon with intent to kill inflicting critical harm, 4 counts of felony assault with a lethal weapon and felony discharging a weapon into an occupied car inflicting critical bodily harm, in keeping with the Iredell County Sheriff’s Workplace.
He was issued no bond as he awaits an look earlier than a district court docket choose.
Fox Information Digital was unable to instantly find an legal professional representing Mason.
As of Monday, the juvenile sufferer was within the hospital and nonetheless receiving medical therapy for his or her accidents.
The Iredell County Sheriff’s Workplace declined Fox Information Digital’s request for remark, citing an energetic investigation.
